Tax-Exempt Organizations and Municipal Finance: Examining Legal Precedents and Financial Realities

11/06/2009
 

A national panel of experts on legal and financial aspects of taxing charitable organizations will be hosted on November 6.

Charitable organizations are exempt from many state and local taxes. With respect to property taxes, this creates special problems for municipalities that are home to large land-owning nonprofits like universities and hospitals. In Pittsburgh and many other communities across the nation, tensions have arisen as municipal and county governments have asked nonprofit institutions to voluntarily contribute to public coffers. Tensions have increased as both nonprofits and local governments feel the financial pressures of the on-going financial crisis.

Beyond the rhetoric of both sides, how should this complex issue be framed for useful public discourse? Have other local governments and nonprofits employed effective strategies for resolving the impasse? Beyond legal precedents, are there issues of accountability and ethics for BOTH nonprofits and municipal governments? Could some of these strategies work in Pittsburgh? 

Speakers:
Evelyn Brody, Chicago-Kent Law School Professor of Law
Woods Bowman, DePaul University, Economist and Former finance director and state legislator
Sabina Deitrick, GSPIA Professor and Co-author of a major study on nonprofits economic impact
Joe Geiger, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO)
James Turner, Former Finance Director, City of Pittsburgh
Moderator: Rick Cohen, Nonprofit Quarterly

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
University Club, Ballroom A
123 University Place

For information or to RSVP, contact 412-648-1336 or email gspiaji@pitt.edu.